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MlNNEbOTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY 



THE HISTORICAL RECORDS 

OF THE 

SCANDINAVIANS IN AMERICA 

BY 

THEODORE C. BLEGEN 



Reprint from the Minnesota History Bulletin, May, 1918 




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THE HISTORICAL RECORDS OF THE 
SCANDINAVIANS IN AMERICA 

In recent years a considerable amount of scholarly research 
has been carried on in the field of the history of the Scan- 
dinavian element in the United States. An illuminating 
illustration of the opportunities open to the scientific historian 
is afforded in Dr. John O. Evjen's recently published book, 
Scandinavian Immigrants in New York, 16^0-16/4. That 
this field has been but little cultivated need scarcely be pointed 
out. Topics important as well as attractive await the atten- 
tion of the investigator. Indeed, it may safely be asserted 
that a great deal of carefully prepared monographic literature 
must be produced before a definitive general treatment of the 
subject can be written. The industrial or economic history 
of a specific group of Scandinavians, or of that element as a 
whole, in the Northwest, or in a single state of the Northwest ; 
a study of their political influence, similarly restricted in 
scope; an investigation of some of the ramifications of the 
process of amalgamation, perhaps particularly in the direction 
of church affiliation or religious tendencies; various aspects 
of their church history ; biographies of leaders in diverse fields 
of activity; studies placing emphasis upon social and general 
cultural factors in the development of Scandinavian life in 
the United States; the problem of the significance of the 
Scandinavians in the American westward movement : all these 
topics serve merely to suggest profitable subjects for mono- 
graphic study. 

An undertaking necessarily preliminary to such research is 
the comprehensive collecting of the materials for the history 
of the Scandinavian element. In fact, this may well be re- 
garded as a matter of far more immediate importance than 



4 ■ THEODORE C. BLEGEN 

intensive research. Would it not be wise to attempt to assemble 
at some central depository the rich sources which at present 
are scattered throughout the Northwest and elsewhere? Not 
a little of this material is now located in the libraries of nu- 
merous denominational colleges ; much of it is to be found in 
private collections. Some of it, fortunately, is accessible to 
students and is well cared for by persons who realize its his- 
torical value. But it is to be feared that a far greater amount 
— particularly of manuscript materials, collections of letters, 
diaries, and other valuable papers — is in the possession of 
persons having little or no appreciation of its significance, and 
is consequently neglected and in serious danger of destruction 
from disintegration, fire, and other causes. The immigration 
is on the whole comparatively recent. Much valuable source 
material is therefore contemporary or nearly so, and in many 
cases it is difficult to draw any clear cut line between primary 
and secondary materials. Important chapters in the fascinating 
story of the Scandinavians in the new world, of their dissem- 
ination throughout the country, of their social, political, 
economic, and religious life, will ultimately have to be recon- 
structed from the kind of materials now largely neglected. 
The permanent loss of these precious records would prove a 
calamity no less unnecessary than historically unfortunate. In 
this connection, the story of a journal written by one of the 
early leaders in the movement of immigration to America is 
of interest. When Ansten Nattestad left Illinois in 1838 on 
a journey to Norway via New Orleans and Liverpool, he 
carried with him the manuscripts of Ole Rynning's famous 
"America Book" and Ole Nattestad's account of his observa- 
tions and experiences. Both of these were published in Nor- 
way as small books and had a considerable influence upon 
emigration in the following years. For many years scholars 
have been searching for a copy of Nattestad's book. Nattestad 
himself lived to be an old man, and it appears that in the 
Eighties he gave to the editor of Skandinaven a manuscript 
copy of his book which he had preserved. Shortly thereafter 



SCANDINAVIAN HISTORICAL RECORDS 5 

the editor's home was destroyed by fire, and with it the 
manuscript. In 1900 two sons of Ole Nattestad located a 
printed copy while on a visit to Norway. In January, 1916, 
this copy was secured by Mr. Halvor L. Skavlem, who turned 
it over to the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. As Ole 
Nattestad was the first Norwegian settler in the state of Wis- 
consin this was fitting. Moreover it is most fortunate that 
the book will now be permanently preserved, since, so far as 
is known, it is the only copy in existence. The title will at 
once indicate its great interest as a document of the early 
immigration : Beskrivclsc over en Rcise til Nordaincrica, 
begyndt den 8de April i8s7 og skrevct paa Skihet Hilda saint 
siden fortsat paa Reisen op igjennem de Forenede Stater i 
Nordamerica, af Ole Kniidsen Nattestad fra Nummcdal 
(Drammen, 1839. 31 p.). 

The loss of this book would probably have been irretrievable. 
Beyond question there are hundreds of other documents, 
printed or manuscript, which will be lost permanently if no 
organized effort is made to insure their preservation. They 
may not have the peculiar significance that the Nattestad 
pamphlet possessed, but may, however, have real value. Is it 
not a proper time to agree upon some well formulated, com- 
prehensive plan for the care of these sources? The problem 
involves more than the gathering up of materials in imminent 
danger of loss or destruction. The student who undertakes 
serious study in the field of Scandinavian-American history is 
confronted with the perplexing task of utilizing sources which 
are scattered about in dozens of places, many of them difficult 
to reach, few of them centrally located. This has acted, natur- 
ally, as a deterrent upon scholars attracted by the subject 
matter and has likewise proved a cause of incomplete and 
unauthoritative work. Moreover it is well-nigh impossible to 
ascertain precisely what may be found in the various deposi- 
tories, a condition due not merely to an absence of published 
lists or descriptions of materials, but also to a lack of adequate 
cataloguing. A more serious defect in the present system. 



6 THEODORE C. BLEGEN 

however, is that few of the small libraries have adequate vaults 
or fireproof rooms in which to preserve their collections, and 
it must be remembered that much of this material can not be 
duplicated. This of course holds true more especially of 
manuscripts. Finally, the small college libraries are usually 
handicapped by a lack of financial resources and of library 
equipment. 

The solution of the problem is to centralize these Scandi- 
navian materials in some depository which gives assurance of 
being a permanent institution and which has the resources 
necessary to an extensive effort in accumulating a great collec- 
tion of printed and manuscript documents, and to an adequate 
and scientific care of the materials which it secures. It must 
arrange the manuscripts, repair and restore the damaged and 
indistinct papers, carefully index them, publish bibliographies, 
descriptive lists, and calendars. Furthermore, under compe- 
tent editorial direction it must undertake the publishing of 
important manuscripts in its possession. It must ab<3ve all be 
centrally located in order to allow extensive utilization of its 
collections by students and investigators. 

The great bulk of the Scandinavian population in the United 
States is in the Northwest, and the Twin Cities, Minneapolis 
and St. Paul, form the heart of this region. Here are centered 
many of the agencies — religious, social, and industrial — which 
embrace in their scope the great mass of Scandinavians in 
America. Here gather most of the great annual conventions 
of their organizations. Here, too, are situated not only the 
University of Minnesota, but a number of the more important 
Scandinavian denominational colleges. In many respects 
Minneapolis and Saint Paul may be considered the cultural 
center of these people in the United States. Not long ago 
Dr. Vincent as president of the University of Minnesota 
declared his intention of striving to make that institution the 
center for Scandinavian study in this country, a proposal which 
elicited wide spread endorsement among educators. By its 
activity as well as its location the university may be considered 



SCANDINAVIAN HISTORICAL RECORDS 7 

in a fair way to accomplish its expressed purpose in this respect. 
It is reasonable to conchide, therefore, that the Twin Cities 
should logically be the Mecca of historical investigators in 
this field, and that, all things considered, here is a proper 
place to build up a great, permanent library of the records of 
the Scandinavians in America. 

The Minnesota Historical Society, situated in Saint Paul, 
has recently made a declaration of policy which gives promise 
of a successful solution of the problem. As a state historical 
society this institution has fittingly specialized in the collecting 
of materials relating to the history of the Northwest, and 
particularly the state of Minnesota. During the period since 
its founding — soon seventy years — the society has grown to 
be one of the greatest institutions of its kind in the United 
States. A magnificent and commodious fireproof building, 
costing in the neighborhood of a half a million dollars, has 
just been erected by the state for the purposes of the society. 
In 1915 the superintendent of the society declared that the 
institution would bend its efforts toward the building up of a 
great library of Scandinavian materials. This, in his opinion, 
is an undertaking peculiarly appropriate for the Minnesota 
Historical Society, because of the significant part played by 
Scandinavians in the history of Minnesota and of the North- 
west. Just as it is proposed to make the university a great 
center for the study of the Scandinavian countries, their 
languages and literatures, so it is intended to make the society 
a center for the study of the Scandinavians in this country. 
The society has proceeded vigorously to carry out its policy. 
Already the recipient of the principal newspapers and period- 
icals published by the Scandinavians in the United States, it 
has begun the task of collecting files of old papers and maga- 
zines, reports of religious organizations and educational 
institutions, as well as books, pamphlets, and manuscripts. An 
arrangement has been effected with the University of Minne- 
sota whereby the latter is to cultivate the field of the Scan- 
dinavian countries, languages, and literatures, and turn over 



8 THEODORE C. B LEG EN 

to the society its materials on the Scandinavians in this country. 
As a consequence of this arrangement the society has acquired 
the extensive O. N. Nelson collection of periodicals, news- 
papers, books, and pamphlets. Formerly one of the most 
comprehensive private collections of its kind, this has now been 
arranged and catalogued, and forms the nucleus of what, it 
is hoped, will become a special library unparalleled in America. 
Other important acquisitions, both printed and manuscript, 
have been made, and the materials wuU ultimately be put in 
charge of a trained librarian familiar with the Scandinavian 
languages and with the history of the Scandinavians in this 
country. 

The success of this undertaking must depend largely upon 
the degree of cooperation accorded it by individuals and organ- 
izations having at heart the preservation of these records. No 
less noble and thrilling than the story of the Puritan fathers 
is this history of the vast wave of Scandinavian immigration 
to the West. The environment in the old world, the eventful 
voyage to the new, the dissemination throughout the continent, 
the breaking of ground, the building of homes and churches, 
the beginning of educational activity, the establishment of a 
position in labor and industry, the gradual entrance into 
American life in all its multiform phases : these are elements 
in an epic half untold, glorious in its recital of achievement, 
and full of inspiring lessons. Surely we can not do less than 
preserve for posterity the extant records of this great mo/e- 
ment. Let us adopt a mature plan, based upon sound, scientific 
principles, and thus insure for future generations the priceless 
treasures of the past and the present. * 

Theodore C. Blegen 

Riverside High School 
Milwaukee 



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